10 Best Knights & Warriors in Game of Thrones TV Shows, Ranked by Skill & Strength

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Knights and warriors are central to the world of Game of Thrones, driving much of the story and often influencing political events, even unintentionally. This will be true for Ser Duncan the Tall, the main character in HBO’s new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Although we haven’t seen Dunk in action yet, the show promises to feature many skilled fighters from George R.R. Martin’s universe.

The most skilled fighters in the world of Game of Thrones are largely from the original series. Characters like Jaime Lannister, whether central to the plot or appearing in past events, are particularly memorable. The ten strongest and most talented warriors across Game of Thrones and its related shows all have remarkable achievements, proving their skill in both tournaments and warfare.

10) Ser Duncan the Tall

Many characters from Game of Thrones could be considered among the weakest fighters, but Ser Duncan the Tall from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms likely takes the last spot. While he’s not as impressive as some others on this list, he’s a reasonably skilled fighter considering his background.

While most skilled warriors in Westeros come from noble families, Dunk rises from the slums of Flea Bottom. As the upcoming series will show, he can hold his own against even the best-trained fighters, despite lacking their advantages. His impressive size and eagerness to learn make him a true knight, and he’s one of the rare few who genuinely embodies the values of knighthood.

9) Bronn

Unlike the honorable Dunk, Bronn doesn’t care much for the traditional values of knighthood. He starts out as a mercenary, fighting for money. But through his friendship with Tyrion, he eventually becomes a knight and joins the Kingsguard. Despite his willingness to side with whoever pays the most, Bronn is undeniably a skilled fighter and a valuable asset.

I’ve always been impressed by Bronn. He’s incredibly nimble and thinks on his feet – seriously, the guy doesn’t panic even when a dragon is attacking! He’s a skilled swordsman too. Now, he’s not going to beat the most experienced, heavily armored knights of Westeros, and he’s definitely smaller than guys like the Hound or Brienne. But honestly, it’s his willingness to do whatever it takes to survive that sets him apart. He’s outlasted a lot of bigger, stronger fighters, and that’s what makes him so dangerous.

8) Sandor Clegane (The Hound)

Bronn became a knight thanks to his incredible fighting ability, but Sandor Clegane, also known as The Hound, is so skilled he could have joined the Kingsguard even without that requirement. As seen from the first season of Game of Thrones, The Hound is a terrifying fighter – he’s big and powerful, yet can easily keep pace with quicker opponents. Like Bronn, he’s also incredibly ruthless.

The Hound is a formidable warrior, capable of holding his own against even the best fighters, like Brienne of Tarth and his brother, The Mountain. His adventures with Arya demonstrate he can skillfully defeat multiple opponents at once. This makes him slightly more skilled than Bronn, though it’s a shame we never got to see them fight each other before the Battle of the Blackwater.

7) Brienne of Tarth

Among the impressive warriors of Game of Thrones, Brienne of Tarth truly stands out. Despite living in a society that didn’t favor women, she became a respected knight and consistently proved her skill. Her strength and training allowed her to defeat even formidable opponents, like her close fight with the Hound. This demonstrates she was one of the most powerful fighters in Westeros.

The show Game of Thrones consistently highlights Brienne’s impressive swordsmanship, often depicting her training or protecting people with it. It’s also admirable how she embodies the ideals of a true knight – she and Ser Duncan the Tall would likely have been good friends.

6) Gregor Clegane (The Mountain)

Ser Gregor Clegane, also known as The Mountain, is an incredibly powerful character in Game of Thrones. He’s physically imposing, standing almost eight feet tall in the books and around seven feet tall as portrayed by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson in the show, and is massively muscular. This sheer size allows him to easily overpower even skilled fighters like the Hound, and wield a large greatsword. While it’s unclear how skilled he is with a sword, his size gives him a significant advantage, and he consistently wins his battles.

The Mountain is incredibly strong, but he isn’t very fast compared to other skilled fighters. He also tends to act rashly when he’s angry, which can be both a disadvantage and, surprisingly, an advantage, as demonstrated in his fight with Oberyn Martell. Considering all aspects, The Mountain currently ranks in the middle of this list. However, the procedures Qyburn performed on him essentially make him unstoppable, and would place him at the very top.

5) Oberyn Martell

Prince Oberyn Martell, also known as the Red Viper of Dorne, is a captivating but dangerous fighter. He’s incredibly quick and a master of weapons, famously using poison against his enemies. While Game of Thrones doesn’t show much of his history, we definitely see how skilled he is in battle. He even appears more capable than The Mountain, but ultimately, his overconfidence causes him to lose their fight.

The fight between The Mountain and Oberyn highlights Oberyn’s main disadvantage: his smaller size and relative lack of strength compared to other warriors in Game of Thrones. While Oberyn usually compensates with speed and distance, he couldn’t overpower The Mountain when it came to a direct struggle. Despite losing, I believe Oberyn was the better fighter and would have won under more even circumstances, and if he hadn’t been so driven by emotion during the fight.

4) Robert Baratheon (Before He Became King)

Robert Baratheon is known as a great warrior, but the Robert we see in the first season of Game of Thrones doesn’t quite match that image. Before becoming king and giving in to temptation, he was a powerful fighter. This skill made him a hero during Robert’s Rebellion – a conflict named after him – and ultimately led to him being crowned king.

At his peak, Robert Baratheon was a powerful and imposing fighter, strong enough to defeat even legendary opponents like Rhaegar Targaryen. He wasn’t just physically strong, though; he was also a skilled strategist and surprisingly quick for his size. These qualities made him one of the best warriors in the Game of Thrones series. However, a few truly exceptional knights surpassed him, and they maintained their skill much more consistently.

3) Jaime Lannister (Before Losing His Hand)

When we first meet Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, he doesn’t immediately come across as a typical knight, but he’s actually one of the show’s most skilled fighters – at least, before he loses his hand. He’s known for being a formidable warrior, though the show doesn’t showcase this as much as his reputation suggests. Jaime is incredibly proficient with a sword, combining speed and strength, and he’s also willing to do what it takes to win – a trait that even benefits characters like Bronn.

Jaime is a naturally gifted swordsman and a successful warrior, placing him high on this list. However, a couple of characters in Game of Thrones are even more skilled. These fighters are more experienced and level-headed than Jaime, and they consistently maintain their abilities throughout their lives – something Jaime can’t do after losing his hand. While he adapts and fights with his left hand, his early death and the handicap prevent him from reaching the level of masters like Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Arthur Dayne, who were both significantly more accomplished.

2) Barristan Selmy

Though we don’t see Ser Barristan Selmy at his peak in Game of Thrones, he’s still a formidable fighter. This is notable because many warriors in Westeros don’t live to old age, and even fewer remain skilled in battle. Barristan confidently tells Cersei and Joffrey that he could defeat many of the younger Kingsguard knights, and I find his claim believable, even though he doesn’t demonstrate it.

Barristan Selmy demonstrates his impressive speed, strength, and skill with a sword while serving Daenerys Targaryen. It’s easy to see why he’s so highly regarded – he clearly has the presence of a seasoned warrior who won countless tournaments, defeated a dangerous opponent called the Smiling Knight, and triumphed in individual battles, including one against the formidable Maelys the Monstrous. He’s a difficult fighter to beat, although one other knight briefly manages to do so.

1) Arthur Dayne

Though Ser Arthur Dayne appears only briefly in Game of Thrones – in flashbacks at the Tower of Joy – he’s considered one of the most skilled knights in George R.R. Martin’s world. Even Ser Barristan Selmy, a highly respected knight himself, admired Dayne and thought he was a better fighter. Ultimately, Dayne’s reputation as the greatest knight comes from the high praise he receives from other accomplished warriors.

Ser Arthur Dayne was a highly accomplished warrior, famously known as the Sword of the Morning. He wielded Dawn, a legendary greatsword said to be forged from a fallen star, and served with distinction in the Kingsguard. He even defeated Rhaegar Targaryen in a jousting tournament and killed the infamous Smiling Knight. Sadly, Ser Arthur was killed at a young age, ambushed and stabbed in the back. Many believe he had the potential to become an even more legendary fighter if he’d lived longer.

Honorable Mentions

It’s tough to pick the very best fighters from the world of Game of Thrones, especially considering only those who were in the TV series. So, here are a few characters who deserve a mention:

As a critic, I have to say Jon Snow is a seriously capable fighter. It was tough deciding between him and Dunk for this spot – he’s just that good with a sword. We see throughout Game of Thrones how truly intimidating he is in battle, and Ramsay Bolton’s fear of facing him one-on-one speaks volumes. While he doesn’t have a ton of definitive victories under his belt, he’s undeniably a skilled swordsman. Honestly, if he’d managed to take down the Night King, he’d be much higher on this list, no question.

Loras Tyrell is a well-regarded knight in Game of Thrones, but it’s debatable whether he’d rank among the top ten. He excels at jousting, preferring a lance to a sword, and most of his combat experience comes from tournaments rather than real battles. Though still young when he gains recognition, he had the potential to become a truly great knight, but unfortunately, his story doesn’t allow for that.

Khal Drogo is a strong candidate for this list because he’s a fearsome fighter, known for his strength and speed. This is why he’s so successful in battle and has a notably long braid at the start of Game of Thrones. While we only see his skills against other Dothraki, his fearlessness and brutality suggest he would be a formidable opponent even against the best warriors in the Seven Kingdoms.

Who do you believe is the strongest fighter in the world of Game of Thrones? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-24 04:13